Harsher penalty sought for Texas man convicted of rape

Dallas, Texas – A Texas judge has come under fire after sentencing a man convicted of rape to 45 days in jail and five years of probation. As reported by Reuters, Dallas prosecutors are now calling for a harsher penalty for the man, who admitted to raping a teenager and was sentenced by State District Judge Jeanine Howard last week.

Howard recused herself from the case amid controversy after telling the Dallas Morning News that the 14-year-old girl was not “the victim she claimed to be” and made claims about her sexual past.

Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins said of the news report on Monday, “This judge called into question whether this victim was really a victim and it does a disservice to law enforcement and our ability to protect those that are sexually assaulted.”

The girl, who is now 17 years old, is quoted as stating to WFAA-TV about the judge’s claims, “I was shocked that a judge, someone that I trusted with this case, would go behind my back, would go and find records and make these allegations that she knows nothing about.”